Vancouver Island University has waived tuition for seven former children-in-care as it becomes the first post-secondary school in B.C. to cover fees for ex-wards of the state. University president Ralph Nilson said the seven students are enrolled in a variety of programs, including criminology, humanities, social work and health care.
A number of them are in the second or third year of an undergraduate degree. Most are in their late 20s, Nilson said. “That’s, I think, an indication of the challenge they have getting to post-secondary when they don’t have any other kinds of support,” he said.
The recipients of the tuition waivers have been “very, very appreciative” and some have offered to mentor students coming behind them, Nilson said.